Whoa. Alexandra Warren. 2020. 101 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Whoa is a spin-off that I wasn’t sure would be coming, but was ready to read as soon as it did. DJ Whoa and Mali were introduced in Oops as a friend and sibling, respectively, of Maverick. It was clear there was a little bit going on with the two, and Whoa picks up with them front and center. Mali has her mind on her business and everything else comes in second. She’s at the helm of a popular and growing online boutique, but takes a chance on a blind date when set up by her intern. To the shock of her and her date Walter — pka DJ Whoa — they already know of each other, through her twin Maverick. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the extended first date is only the first example. With Whoa, Warren takes a pointed look at how career ambitions help or hinder relationship building. For Mali and Walt, they initially connect on how hard they go to create notable careers. Unfortunately, the biggest wrench for Mali and Walter is exactly that. With Mali also being a few years younger than Walt, there’s…

The Pleasure Principle. Nicole Falls. 2020. 167 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] The Pleasure Principle is a memoir on love. A journey through sex, if you will. Throughout it, the main character, DJ, recounts her relationships — romantic or sexual in nature — and the growth she saw along the way. DJ, whose full name is Damita Jo, like the singer, doesn’t just reminisce on the good and bad sex she had. That is part of the story, but certainly not all. Instead, it’s really a reflection on a life of love and lust, and the lesson’s she learned along the way. One of the most prominent lessons in this book was about setting expectations to the side and going where life takes you. For DJ, it meant stepping outside of expectations for her life, , her career, and her romantic and platonic relationships. Instead, she stepped into what felt right or good in the moment, and opened herself up to new experiences at every turn. As someone closer to her age at the end of the book, it was easy to relate to the experiences she had and the mindset she was in. There was wistfulness, but overall, I sensed…

Lovecraft Country. Matt Ruff. 2016. Picador. 330 pages. [Source: Personal Copy.] I was late to the party on this one. I saw advertisements for the HBO series prior to its release and knew I’d check the show out on the strength of who was connected to it. I was not, however, committed to reading the book until I actually saw the first episode. Now I’m pretty invested. Lovecraft Country is centered on Atticus, a young Chicago native who’s returning from military service at the request of his father, Montrose. Montrose has long been obsessed with understanding the family history of Atticus’ late mother. Things take an odd turn when Montrose sends a letter that compels Atticus to meet him in Ardham, Massachusetts. It’s the heart of Lovecraft Country, a literary world made famous by the author of the same name. It’s filled with evil creatures, but Atticus finds that not all monsters are figments of imagination. What struck me most about this book is how deeply it looks at racism in America. Some examples are glaring — sundown town, anyone — but many are insidious, like the lies than are easily told about “the help” that cost them their livelihoods….

Fans Only. B. Love. 2020. 118 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] B. Love has capitalized on current events, and Only Fans is definitely a part of it. What started as a friendly discussion among friends turns into a proposition that Aries is loathe to turn down — start a strictly platonic Only Fans with frenemy Merrick. On the surface, it’s a mutually beneficial plan — for 6 months, the two will run an anonymous Only Fans account. They’ll make it their little secret, and solemnly swear not to get emotionally attached. At the end, they’ll split the profits; he’ll open his own music studio and she’ll be able to afford a year-long apprenticeship across the country with a fashion design icon. Seems legit; what could go wrong? Obviously a lot can go left when you’re making porn with a close friend. Even while trying their hardest to remain neutral toward each other, it was inevitable that they’d get to see a different side of each other. I found it interesting to see how they plotted their cinematic exploits. The mechanics of how to film while making sure their identities remain hidden, whether to give their channel a storyline … it was…

The Crossover. Kwame Alexander. 2014. HMH Books. 240 pages. [Source: Public library.] In my younger days, I might not have willingly picked up a book that centered a teen boy, let alone one that also centered basketball. If The Crossover were a book I chose to pass on, I would have done myself a true disservice. I enjoyed this book; so much so that I read the original 2014 release as well as the graphic novel published in 2019. While told from the perspective of Josh “Filthy McNasty” Bell, The Crossover is actually about him and his twin, Jordan “JB” Bell.  They’re just shy of thirteen, and the book sees a shift in their relationship as their individual priorities change.  The two are stars of their school basketball team, their father a former international basketball champion whose own career was cut short and their mother an assistant principal at their school. Although almost identical except for their hair, their paths are diverging in the face of academics, dating, and everything else that comes with being on the cusp of their teenage years. What immediately jumped out to me is that Alexander writes entirely in verse.  The arrangement isn’t just linear on…